School winners

Art students at Harbour Pointe Middle School in Mukilteo created watercolor cards with words of support and hope for the families of the 26 children and adults who lost their lives at Sandy Hook Elementary School in December.

Middle-schoolers paint hope messagesArt students at Harbour Pointe Middle School in Mukilteo created watercolor cards with words of support and hope for the families of the 20 children and six adults who lost their lives at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., in December."It is important to help middle-schoolers step away from focusing on themselves and focus on the care and concerns of others," said Nancy Jordan, the Harbour Pointe art teacher who coordinated the project.Harbour Pointe special education teacher Kevin Slavin, who planned a trip near Newtown, to see family, took the cards with him and handed them off to a Sandy Hook art teacher, who was a friend of a relative.The Sandy Hook teacher planned to hand-deliver the cards to families of the victims. Students to go to environment summitTwo area students were among 250 chosen as National Youth Delegates to attend the Washington Youth Summit on the Environment at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va.Ariana Winkler of Snohomish, a student at Monroe High School, and Sarah Bishop of Oak Harbor, a student at Coupeville High School, will represent Washington at the summit June 23 to 28.The program for aspiring environmentalists includes an intensive weeklong study of leadership in environmental science and conservation. Delegates were chosen based on academic accomplishments and a demonstrated interest and excellence in leadership in the sciences and conservation studies.Kamiak student headed to D.C.Joel Bervell of Snohomish was one of two students in the state and 104 from across the country selected to participate as delegates to the annual U.S. Senate Youth Program's Washington Week. The annual program will be held in Washington, D.C., March 9 to 16.The honor also comes with a $5,000 college scholarship from the Hearst Foundations, with encouragement to continue coursework in government, history and public affairs.Washington Week is an intensive weeklong study of the federal government and the people who lead it. Entry is competitive. Teachers and principals nominate students based on academics, leadership and volunteerism. Delegates are then selected by the state superintendent of public instruction. Joel attends Kamiak High School in Mukilteo and is student body president. He also co-directs "Hugs for Ghana," a nationally known nonprofit dedicated to providing school supplies for children in Ghana. He also serves his community as a church volunteer, tutor and Teens in Public Service intern.Joel plans a medical career.To submit items, email newstips@heraldnet.com and put ["]School Winners" in the subject line, or leave a message for reporter Melissa Slager at 425-312-3530.

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